Academic Demands Research Articles

Toward Effective Teaching: What Teachers Need to Know About Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder

The current dynamic societal changes increase stress and depression. COVID-19 pandemic, though, creates an uncertain atmosphere in classrooms. Therefore, students and teachers experience many mental health disparities. Despite the expanded discussions about students, and teachers’ well-being, there is a dire need to resolve the understanding of the mental health issues among the learning and teaching communities. For effective teaching, educators should be aware of learners’ psychological and psychosocial changes related to the development of autonomous personal life. For learning progression, students must cope with the academic and social demands they could encounter in schools and their professional careers. Covid-19 raised many psychological and sociological challenges that shaped developing systems and intervention methods that prevent or at least reduce the collateral mental problems such as anxiety and depression. This article attempts to portray the learners’ mental instability during the Covid-19 pandemic and then discusses some teaching tools that lead to controlling the disruption in the educational industry. It introduces anxiety and depression among learners to increase educators’ awareness of the symptoms and the pedagogical tools to guide their students properly. It also reports some easy-to-follow pedagogical strategies to assess and control students’ anxiety and depression in learning environments.

Optimalisasi Penggunaan Aplikasi Edu-Cons Pada Layanan Informasi Untuk Mengurangi Academic Burnout Mahasiswa Pada Mata Kuliah Bimbingan dan Konseling

The academic field demands optimal learning in real contexts that have an impact on students in everyday life. That is, the learning material delivered can be applied and applied in real everyday life. In practice, students often experience various obstacles, one of which is academic burnout or often referred to as academic burnout. The application of Android-based BK learning media that has been developed in previous research produces the Edu-Cons application and is considered to be one of the learning media that can support and optimize the learning process in Android-based guidance and counseling. To overcome the problem of student academic burnout, information services are needed using the Edu-Cons application that has been made previously. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of academic burnout of students before and after being given information services using the Edu-Cons application. The research method used in this study is a pre-experimental design research. This research uses One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. with a population of 3rd semester students of the Counseling Guidance Study Program at the University of Bengkulu with a total sample of 32 people who were determined using a random sampling technique. Data collection techniques using a questionnaire instrument. Analysis of the data in this study using the Z test which shows the value of sig(2-tailed) P <0.05 so that Ho is rejected and Ha is accepted. This means that there is an effect of information services on optimizing the use of the edu cons application to reduce student academic burnout in guidance and counseling courses.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND ACADEMIC SELF-EFFICACY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF ANXIETY AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The distress and anxiety brought about by the academic demands negatively influences student performance during the abrupt shift to full-online classes. However, the literature indicates that self-efficacy significantly alleviates the negative effect of distress and anxiety.The current study aims to determine the relationship of COVID-19 related distress and academic self-efficacy as well as investigate if anxiety is a moderator that aggravates the distress of Angeles University Foundation college students. A total of 223 college students’ participants were acquired from a voluntary convenience sample and participants answered the questionnaires through Google Forms, namely: The Online Learning Self-Efficacy (OLSE), The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and The Coronavirus Pandemic Anxiety Scale (CPAS-11). Additionally, all statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 23. Moreover, the hierarchical regression was conducted to determine if COVID-19 distress predicted academic self-efficacy (ASE) with anxiety as the moderator. The findings indicate that COVID-19 distress and anxiety negatively affect the beliefs of the students in their capacity to perform academic tasks. However, evidence failed to support the moderating role of anxiety between Covid-19 distress and academic self-efficacy.

Social Media Platforms: Perceptions and Concerns of Saudi EFL Learners

This study evaluates the place of social media platforms (SMP) and their use patterns amongst Saudi EFL learners, their preferences, and academic impact at the Department of English and Translation of Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. The study uses a seven item closed-ended questionnaire to conduct a survey to gather the data from male students at the University. A total of 100 randomly chosen (male) students in the department of language and translation were given the questionnaires to answer. Analysis of data shows that most students judiciously utilise SMPs to meet their scholastic or academic demands, with YouTube and Facebook topping log-in time and diversity of use by EFL students. In addition, the use of SMPs helped significantly improve students’ capacity to contribute to information exchange and collaborative education, enhanced their academic standing and strengthened their reading and writing abilities. On an average, most students spend three hours a day on SMP. Among the positive impacts of SMP on students' global development included accessing and sharing updated information in an entertaining format. At the same time, some negative impacts reported were minimized interpersonal contact, non-academic use of the SMPs, and physical ailments (mainly vision centred) due to being glued to electronic devise for long durations of time. The current study demonstrates the efficacy of SMPs for academic purposes, which is a positive factor for their grades and academic competence and recommends that teachers engage their learners to use SMP for both entertainment and academics.

Physical Activity Level and Influence on Mood States, Anxiety and Self Image in University Students

The regular practice of physical activities in the life of university students becomes secondary, either due to high academic demands or abrupt changes in lifestyle. However, as this academic environment is competitive and demanding, it can in turn change mood levels, anxiety and perception of these students; in this sense the exercise can be a great ally in facing the adversities of the academic period. Thus, the present study sought to evaluate and compare the levels of mood, anxiety and perception of body self-image of 66 university students. The results showed that the level of physical activity influenced the Total Mood Disorder (TMD), with the most active groups having an improvement over time [(SA group (6.55±29.03%, p=0.046) and MA (9.48±28.94%, p=0.023)]. However, the anxiety and self-image of the students was not verified improvement. Thus, it can be understood that higher levels of habitual physical activity can help university students in their mood patterns, thus helping with an improvement in the academic environment.

The Relationship Between Peer Social Support and Student Academic Resilience

Academic resilience is a form of student resilience in stressful conditions, a way to rise from adversity, adapt, and how to solve problems to face various existing academic demands. One of the factors that influence academic resilience is social support. This study was conducted to examine the significant relationship between peer social support and student academic resilience. This type of research is quantitative with a descriptive correlational approach with a sample of 176 students taken using the Proportional Random Sampling technique. The results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between peer social support and student academic resilience of the Islamic Religious Education Study Program, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang. Thus, the higher the peer social support, the higher the student academic resilience of the Islamic Religious Education Study Program, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang. Vice versa, the lower the peer social support, the lower the student academic resilience of the Islamic Religious Education Study Program, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang.

The Effects of the First Phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents With preexisting Psychiatric Conditions.

Few studies have examined the impact of the initial school closures and stay-at-home orders on those vulnerable children and adolescents with preexisting psychiatric conditions. In our study, we explore the impact on this population and identify risk and resilience factors by looking both at those children who were impacted negatively as well as those who were impacted positively by this period. Questionnaires were administered by child and adolescent psychiatrists to 101 parents of child and adolescent outpatients in a mental health clinic as well as 75 of the adolescents, themselves, during the initial stay-at-home orders in Israel. Parents and their children were asked how the situation changed the symptoms for which the children are being treated at our clinic. Information regarding demographic, family, and individual factors was also gathered. The largest group of parents (44%) reported improvement in their child's symptoms during this period, whereas 33% reported no change and 25% reported worsening. Risk factors included parental stress and level of child preoccupation with Covid-19. The major protective factor was parental presence. Although home confinement during the Covid-19 pandemic can lead to worsening mental health status among children, it can also provide an opportunity for those with previous mental health conditions to improve and strive. For these children to improve during such a period, decreased social and academic demands and increased parental presence seem to be key factors. For those who deteriorate, identifying and targeting parental stress can be as important as targeting the child's stress during such times.

Poor sleep quality and erectile dysfunction in students from a Peruvian University: A cross-sectional study.

We aimed to evaluate the association between sleep quality and erectile dysfunction in young university students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in men aged 18-30 years from Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru. The survey comprised the International Index of Erectile Function, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Berlin questionnaire, and questions related to sociodemographic data. Prevalence ratios were estimated with generalized linear models. Of 381 participants, the median age was 23 years. Half of the students (50.9%) had poor sleep quality, of which 72.7% had mild erectile dysfunction and 20.6% mild to moderate dysfunction. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction was significantly higher in students with poor sleep quality than in students with good sleep quality (aPR = 6.48; 95% CI: 4.58-9.17) after adjusting for age, academic year, nutritional status, and sleep apnea. In a subsequent exploratory analysis, sleep apnea was associated with a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction (aPR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.01-1.39), while overweight (aPR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76-0.95) and obesity (aPR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.52-0.82) were associated with a lower prevalence of this condition. Poor sleep quality was independently associated with erectile dysfunction in young university students. This finding suggests that male students are at risk for sexual problems due to possible academic demands and relationship issues.

The characteristics of efficacious leader in higher education: A literature review

University is a remarkable institution which is always expected to change the world through its constantly innovative technology and science advancement and civilization promotion. Academic institution relies on its efficacious leader with vision and implementation to fully accomplish its missions. However, limited attention goes to this crucial leader’s requirements and characteristics, even faculty members in the higher education institutions studiously conduct research for external organizations. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis addressing innovative academic leader’s characteristics based on the current global situation, university mission, and unique culture. Finally, this article concluds the competencies and characteristics of efficacious academic leader demands in this changing era: envisioning the institutional future, integrating social resources with reciprocity, modeling the way with morality and integrity, executing university missions with professions and humanity, empowering team members with full support, and inspiring students with humanity. Those integrated characters could effectively guide faculty members for their future self-development, and contribute to achieving university mission on science development, producing high-quality human resources, and contributing of the human civilization promotion. This conclusion retrospectively raises further suggestions for future study, how faculty members build these characters considering the unique and complex situation of interpersonal and external factors within the university.

An evaluation of the Interdisciplinary Psychosocial Oncology Research Group and Laboratory: An initiative to enable intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Psychosocial oncology (PSO) is an interdisciplinary field that is often practised and researched in disciplinary silos. The Interdisciplinary PSO Research Group and Laboratory (IPSORGL) was developed in Ottawa (Ontario) to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and training amongst trainees, healthcare professionals (HCPs), and researchers. The research team conducted an implementation and outcome evaluation of the IPSORGL. Data were collected using sequential mixed methods, including surveys and interviews. Eight trainees, six HCPs, and five researchers completed the survey. Six trainees and four HCPs participated in an interview. Benefits of the IPSORGL included establishing interdisciplinary connections and collaborations and obtaining unique training in a supportive environment. Challenges included members' differing preferences for meeting formats and content, and difficulties prioritizing the IPSORGL over other academic or clinical demands. The IPSORGL fosters essential interdisciplinary training and collaboration, which bolsters psychosocial oncology research and practice. The sustainability of such initiatives, however, requires formal institutional support.

FIVE-FINGER'S HYPNOTHERAPY ON ACADEMIC STRESS LEVELS IN ADOLESCENTS AT TAHFIDZ KHAIRUNNAS TUBAN

Introduction: Academic stress is a condition where there is a mismatch between academic demands and abilities. Students dealing with the burden of lessons that are considered quite heavy at school will be able to cause stress to adolescents at this time, adolescents generally experience pressure from the school and sometimes from parents demanding children to get high grades. Non-pharmacological therapy is a type of treatment/prevention that has no impact/effect on internal organs compared to pharmacological therapy which uses drugs. One of the non-pharmacological treatments that can reduce academic stress is Five-finger’s hypnotherapy, Five-finger’s hypnosis is a form of self-hypnosis that can have a high relaxation effect, thereby reducing anxiety, tension, and stress. This study aims to determine the effect of Five-finger’s hypnotherapy on the level of academic stress in seventh-grade adolescents at Tahfidz Entrepreneur Junior High School, Khairunnas Tuban. Methods: This type of research is pre-experimental using a one-group pre-post test design approach with a cohort approach. The instrument used in this study was the academic stress questionnaire. The population in this study was 102 adolescents who were selected by a simple random sampling technique, obtaining 81 adolescents. The Inclussion criteria: Class VII youth of SMP Tahfidz Entrepreneur Khairunnas Tuban and Willing to be a respondent. The independent variable in this study is five-finger’s therapy and the dependent variable is academic stress. Result & Analysis: The results of the research conducted after being analyzed using the Wilcoxon test with a significance level of =<0.05 was proven to reduce the level of academic stress with a value of = 0.000<0.05 which means that H1 is accepted, namely there is an effect of five finger`s hypnotherapy on the level of academic stress in students VII graders. Discussion: From the description above, it can be concluded that five finger hypnotherapy affects reducing academic stress levels in seventh-grade adolescents at Tahfidz Entrepreneur Junior High School, Khairunnas Tuban.

The Relationship of Adversity Quotient and Academic Stress to Students' Academic Procrastination Behavior in Compiling a Thesis

This study aims to determine the relationship of adversity quotient and academic stress to students' academic procrastination behavior in compiling a thesis. The research subjects were 120 students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Muhammadiyah Gresik. The sample technique used is purposive sampling. The approach used in this study is quantitative method. In this study, researchers used 3 (three) types of scales, namely the adversity quotient scale, academic stress scale, academic procrastination scale. The data analysis technique used in this study is a multiple linear regression analysis technique. Various problems can arise in a student in the implementation of his academic activities, the many demands that must be met, poor time management and unfinished coursework. Conditions like this according to Sarfino (2006: 61) are predicted to trigger stress in students if they are unable to meet these demands. Stress events vary depending on how the individual responds to the difficulties they face. The existence of adequate Adversity quotient ability helps students not to easily feel stressed in facing various kinds of difficult situations or academic demands that they receive. So that the adversity quotient affects a person's stress level.

Teachers’ Academic Demands on Performance and Mental Health among High School Students in Embu West Sub County, Embu County, Kenya

Formal education is common for growing children. Teachers play a very important role in preparing and promoting the academic life of learners. The learners on their part are expected to respond to the efforts of the teachers. Teachers place academic demands to learners which may elicit anxiety to the learners. Many studies have been done on the causes and remedies of low performance of learners in high schools. Little has been done concerning the mental health of learners in relation to academic demands from their teachers. The study adopted a correlational research design with a quantitative approach. The sample population was 300 consisting of 141 males and 159 females aged 13 – 17 from Embu West sub county. Convenience sampling design was used to get the final sample from potential participants. Data was collected using GAD-7 standardized questionnaires on mental health and researcher’s designed questionnaire to measure teachers’ academic demands on learners. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The study findings indicated a significant correlation between teachers’ academic demands and the mental health of the learners. The findings are significant in drawing attention to the gaps in knowledge in low performance among the high school students.

Educational environment and mental wellbeing of medical and surgical postgraduate residents in Medellin, Colombia

IntroductionOne of the most important moments in a doctor’s life occurs when they do a medical residency. This period imposes stress and academic demands, which, together with the educational environment, allows for greater or lesser mental wellbeing. The objective of this study was to determine how the educational environment and mental wellbeing of medical residents are related. MethodsAnalytical cross-sectional study, in residents of clinical-surgical specialties. The educational environment was assessed using the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM), and mental wellbeing was assessed with the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Pearson’s linear correlation was determined. Informed consent and approval by the university ethics committee were obtained. ResultsThe study population comprised 131 students, 43.8% male, with a median age of 28 years (interquartile range 4). In total, 87.9% of residents answered the survey. Of these, 65.9% were doing medical residencies and 34.1% surgical residencies. The mean PHEEM score was 107.96 ± 18.88, the positive emotions subscale was 29.32 ± 5.18 and positive functioning 23.61 ± 3.57, with a mean total mental wellbeing of 52.96 ± 8.44. A positive and moderate correlation was found between the total PHEEM score and each of the two mental wellbeing subscales (p < 0.001). ConclusionsA positive correlation was found between a better perception of the educational environment and mental wellbeing by residents of clinical and surgical specialties with greater mental wellbeing.

The Importance of Soft Skills: A Comprehensive Study on the Employability of Business Graduates in Bangladesh

This research proposal aims to investigate “the importance of soft skills and the impact of soft skills on the employability of business graduates in Bangladesh.” The study aims to pinpoint the most important soft skills that employers look for during the hiring process and to look into how these skills affect employment prospects and career advancement opportunities. Using a mix of primary and secondary qualitative research methods, like Likert scale surveys and a careful look at relevant publications and online sources, data will be gathered from employers in Bangladesh. For the primary data, a thematic analysis and descriptive statistics will be used. For the secondary data, a systematic review and a thematic analysis will be used. The implications of the research include helping business graduates improve their employability and advising academic institutions on how to improve their recruitment practises. The research findings will help to close the gap between academic preparation and industry demands, thereby improving the employability prospects of Bangladeshi business graduates.

A Comparative Review of Postdoctoral Experiences Around the World

Objective: To compare postdoctoral experiences globally, focusing on funding models, career development, work environment, and the challenges and opportunities in diverse academic disciplines. Method: A comprehensive review of recent literature and academic sources was conducted, focusing on various countries and disciplines. This review included qualitative and quantitative studies, reports, and firsthand accounts from postdoctoral researchers. Findings: The analysis revealed significant disparities in funding models, with some regions offering robust governmental support while others rely on competitive grants. Career development opportunities varied, often influenced by regional academic and industry demands. Work environments also differed markedly, with some offering supportive and balanced atmospheres and others posing challenges like job insecurity and limited work-life balance. Additionally, the challenges and opportunities faced by postdoctoral researchers were found to be closely linked to geographic and institutional contexts. Conclusion: The global postdoctoral landscape is marked by diversity and disparity. These findings underscore the need for more equitable distribution of resources and support systems. They suggest that policy reforms and institutional strategies should be directed towards creating a more balanced, supportive, and globally interconnected research environment.

One Health predatory symposiums and publishers in Brazil and Latin America: How to recognize and find solutions to avoid them?

Abstract ‘One Health’ ( ‘Saúde Unica’, ‘Una Salud’, ‘ Uma So Saúde’) has become a fashionable topic in Latin America. The funding for education and research grants has increased exponentially in recent years. However, this term is indiscriminately applied. Many claimed expertise while having little knowledge or history of the subject. Projects with ‘One Health’ in the title were awarded grants to applicants with no previous experience or basic knowledge of the concept. Virtual courses, certificate programs and publication opportunities have been advertised to attract a large number of participants at conferences as well as incentives for expected academic achievements and career promotion demands in any area. One Health Impact Statement The authors strongly believe that this ethical discussion is of high importance for the successful continuing of implementation, and development of One Health with integrity and legitimacy in Latin America and in the world.

Perioperative Management in the Collegiate Athlete: An Integrated Approach.

Collegiate athletes face rigorous physical, academic, and emotional demands. While significant attention has been paid to injury prevention among young athletes in the past two decades, orthopedic injury rates remain high among collegiate athletes, and a significant number will undergo surgical management for injuries each year. In this narrative review, we describe techniques for perioperative management of pain and stress after surgery in collegiate athletes. In particular, we outline pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of surgical pain, with a goal of minimizing opiate consumption. We emphasize a multi-disciplinary approach to optimizing post-operative recovery in collegiate athletes help minimize reliance on opiate pain medication. Additionally, we recommend that institutional resources should be harnessed to support athletes in their well-being, from a nutritional, psychological and sleep standpoint. Critical to success in perioperative pain management is the communication among the athletic medicine team members and with the athlete and family to address pain and stress management and encourage timely, safe return to play.

Influence of Learners’ Diversity on the Pedagogical Practices in Engineering Education: A Meta-Analysis of Teachers’ Reflections

The escalating transits of learners across the international boundaries have resulted into several eruptive pedagogical practices in the class room teaching. A paradigm shift in the pedagogies has been experienced by the teachers to fulfilling the academic demands by the international learners. Though the teaching-learning processes have become more effective, versatile and technology driven due to the learners’ diversity, it may be important to understand the challenges, barriers and psychological reflections by the teachers in facing these transformations. The article analyses the reflections by the teachers on the catering to the student’s diversity. Total of sixty one teachers from different engineering streams participated in the survey. The data were collected anonymously. A metaanalysis has been carried out to obtain the similarities and differences of reflections on various hypotheses. All the important attributes of academics namely pedagogic, assessment, method of instructions, cultural integration of students in a common task, and overall influence of the diversity on the teaching-learning processes have been discussed. The study revealed that the teachers had to accommodate the diversity in their concurrent pedagogic and students had to develop new learning styles. The teachers have shown agreement on most of the hypothesis mentioned in the questionnaire; however it was found that catering the students’ diversity in the class room is the function of the interpersonal skills, academic experience and ability to communicate effectively with the diversified learners. The results established that the teachers will have to accommodate the learner’s diversity by a continuous up gradation and by embracing the new ways of pedagogical practices. The study inspired the authors to propose a model for effective pedagogy in the diversified class rooms and has been presented for the futuristic discussion by the readers and academicians. Keywords—Diversity; Engineering education; Learners; Metaanalysis; Pedagogy; Teachers

Emotional Stability as Predictor of General Coping among Engineering Students

Emotional stability is defined as the ability of an individual to keep one’s emotional balance under pressure. At the same time, coping allows an individual to grow and move forward when dealing with stress. With the academic demand of engineering courses, it is essential to understand emotional stability and general coping, as education can also be stressful. Thus, the main goal of the present study was to investigate if emotional stability predicts the general coping skills among engineering students using simple linear regression. A total of 445 students, ages 18-20, participated in the study. Out of 445 students, 217 were male, and 228 were female. Results revealed that students were emotionally stable, with a mean score of 6.66 which can be interpreted as a high average. It means that participants in the current study are at ease in handling problems, can quickly recover from an emotional upset, and are generally satisfied with life. Likewise, the score in general coping also shows a high average with a mean score of 60.40 which means that engineering students have good coping skills that help them tolerate, minimize, and deal with stressful life situations. Moreover, the simple linear regression results show that emotional stability is not a strong predictor for general coping skills. For engineering students in the present study, aside from emotional stability, other factors contribute to their coping skills. Moreover, it is still good to note that emotional stability has a direct relationship with general coping as indicated by the regression model.